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(No Modem I J. WULOVELL V GUARD FOR BOOKS, PAMPHLBTS, AND OTHER PUBLICATIONS. No. 334,446. Patented Jam. 19,1886.

Attorney.

N. PETERS. PMlo-Lilhngraphar, wnhin m, D4 6.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. LOVELL, OF NE\V YORK, N. Y.

GUARD FOR BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, AND OTHER PUBLICATIONS.

.SPECIFICA'I'ION "forming part of Letters Patent No. 334,446, dated January 19, 18$ 6.

Application filed June 4, 1885. Serial No. 167,571. (hfomodelj To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN W. LOVELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Guards for Books, Pamphlets, and other Publications; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention in this case relates to means for preventing books or periodicals-from being read without this fact being recognizable.

The object is to prevent loss to the publishers by return of the publications as unused or unread, when, in fact, they have been so.

Publishers are subjected to much trouble and to loss by dealers selling their publications to customers, purchasing them back after they have been read, and then returning them to the publishers, thus making double profits at the expense of the publishers. This practice may be prevented by leaving a book uncut or by not trimming the tops of the leaves; but the reading public object that uncut or untrimmed books are troublesome. It has also been proposed to seal the free edges of newspapers or other folded periodicals in such manner that the seal will be destroyed when the paper is unfolded by the purchaser; but this is manifestly not successfully applicable to publications such as those of Lovells Library, since a sealing of the free edges would prevent requisite capability of inspection.

The invention consists of a seal for books, pamphlets, and periodicals, or, more properly speaking, of a guard therefor, formed by a band so placed about a work that While the pages may readily be inspectedas, for example, by the post-office officials in the mails, or by those desiring to acquaint themselves with the general character of the publication-the work cannot be read without cutting, tearing, or otherwise destroying the band, or by exerting the greatest care to remove it unbroken, while, if once removed, the

band connot be replaced without the fact of its having been removed being recognizable.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown two of several forms in which my invention may be carried into effect.

Figure l is a view of a book with the band applied. Fig. 2'is a perspective view of the band as it would appear folded without being upon the book, and with both ends of the strip fixed. Fig. 3 is a view of the same with one end of the strip loose, as shown.

A is a band consisting of an outer portion, a, and a central portion, strip, or tongue, I). In this form the strip is firstinscrtcd between two leaves, and being held there, the rest of the band is passed tightly around the book until some part of-the outer portion is reached, when it is pasted or otherwise firmly attached there. The strip may be inserted lengthwise and the band be passed lengthwise aroundthe book. In this case the strip, which is in-- serted between the leaves, may be aifixed to the outer portion at both ends. As the band in this case is preferably placed at or pushed toward the stitching of the book, and as the outer edges are thus left free, the book may be easily inspected; or the band may be applied laterally and the strip be passed around the book sidewise; but in such case the invention differs from that of the ordinary wrapping of newspapers, magazines, 820., since, to prevent the band from being slipped off and reapplied or replaced by another without recognition of the fact of its having once been removed, one end of the strip is to be aiiixed within the book at the back, as by being bound in with the book, or by being gummed, pasted, or otherwise fastened there; or the strip may be inserted at a particular place in the book predetermined by and particularly known only to the publishers. Thelatter course may with advantage be adopted even when the band is passed lengthwise around the book. It is not essential that there should be a tongue. The band may be passed wholly or partly around the book without interposition of a strip or tongue, and be pasted or otherwise fastened, as by sealingwax. The band is preferably made of paper, but may be of textile fabric or any other suitable material. It will be seen that in no case is the guard or seal fixed to the free edges of the publication.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination, with a book, pamphlet, or other suitable publication, of a guard consisting of a band passed firmly about the same lengthwise and toward the back thereof, substantially as described, whereby it removed the band cannot be replaced without the fact of its having been removed being recognizable, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination with a book, pamphlet, or other suitable publication, a guard consisting of a band having one portion inserted lengthwise between the leaves and the other portion passing lengthwise around the work,

the band being applied, preferably, near the back of the book, toward the stitching, and tightly, that it may be impossible or difficult to remove the same without destroying it, subr5 stantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. LOVELL. \Vitnesses:

LINCOLN SMITH, ALBERT COOKSLAW. 

